I JO SWINE IN AMERICA 



ration of muscle-making and more laxative food; not 

 too much, as it will tend to make them lazier, with a 

 greater probability of their getting in the way of the 

 cattle and also of neglecting the exercise which is one 

 of the benefits from allowing sows to work over the 

 droppings of cattle fed on grain. 



Whether or not a sow is safely in pig will be known 

 usually about 20 or 21 days after coupling. A careful 

 record should be kept of the date of coupling, so that 

 the probable time of farrowing may be known. The 

 period of gestation is about 112 days from the date of 

 service. Young sows are likely to carry their first litters 

 for a slightly shorter period, not infrequently farrowing 

 in 106 or 108 days, while old sows may take a longer 

 time, extending to possibly 115 days. Instances are 

 exceptional when any variation either way exceeds a 

 week from the 112th day. The table on page 140. 

 taking the left-hand date for the time of coupling, will 

 show by the right-hand date in the same column the time 

 when farrowing is likely to occur. 



TIME FOR FARROWING 



Throughout most of the corn Ijelt of the United States 

 the main crop of pigs should come in the warm days of 

 April, and that this may be so, sows should be brcl 

 as near the middle of December as possil)le. Where the 

 breeder's facilities will afford the requisite care and 

 warmth and the latitude is not too far north it may be 

 safe to have the pigs come in March. As a general rule 

 in the northern states a sow should not have pigs in 



